Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The very first movie I ever saw was the original animated feature, Jungle Book in 1967. I was about 8 years old. I loved it, and I loved that my dad took Mom and us kids to all see it together-- And, we got popcorn.

The very last movie I saw was The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. I hated it. The movie was the biggest waste of a Saturday night (and $24) that I can remember in a very long time. It was a dog and I'm pretty sure the rest of the audience in the theater agreed with me. What a disappointment.

So imagine my surprise when I was up early this morning watching the Golden Globe Award nomination announcements on television. When The Tourist was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Actor, I nearly fell over the tv stand.

But it got me thinking-- I've seen A LOT of really bad movies over the years but I've also seen some really great ones too. With the exception of E. T.; The Extra-Terrestrial, my all-time faves tend to lean towards small independent films like The Madness of King George with Helen Mirren and Nigel Hawthorne, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman directed by Ang Lee, Big Night which is when I started crushing on Stanley Tucci, and Life Is Beautiful starring Italian darling Roberto Benigni.

Movies currently playing in theaters have been a bit lackluster for me, but I'm hoping-- always hoping-- for a really good one just around the corner. This coming weekend, Black Swan is on my "must see" list. And, if I can get some extra time, I'll actually go see the not so great Burlesque so I can check out Mr. Tucci's performance.

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GIVEAWAY!

Are you one of those Day-After-Christmas-Shoppers? If you are, here's your chance to win an $80 CSNStores.com Gift Certificate to shop (online) til you drop starting December 26th. I'm having a giveaway and the winner will be announced December 25th! Just leave a comment below to enter.

Usual CSNStores.com Giveaway rules apply: US and Canada only (sorry). YOU pay the shipping. One time use only. No exchanges or returns. I draw winner randomly. Entries close Midnight, December 24, 2010 Pacific Time.

I haven't seen that movie yet, but it does seem that it just takes the right names to get nominations sometimes. We don't go out to movies often, just wait for them to come out on DVD.Thanks for doing another nice giveaway!

Movies are so expensive now, so if I go I don't want to be disappointed. It's hard to go off critics because everyone has their taste. I'm planning on seeing a few over the Christmas break, really want to see Burlesque. Have a great day JJ.

Hi Joanna, I really like the story of you and your mom and dad and siblings going to the movies together. And getting popcorn too. Now I don't know if I want to see The Tourist. I am a big Johnny Depp fan. We stopped going to the theater to see movies and instead we watch instant play movies on Netflix. Regarding the Golden Globe awards, I disagreed with the nominations so much and ended up thinking it was all political anyway. Took the fun out of it for me.

Rarely do I get to a movie these days but when I do watch a movie I have learned to not go by what the critics say...if they say a movie is great, often times I think it sucks...if they say a movie isn't good, often times I like it. Thanks for letting us know about the movie with Jolie in it as it was one I was wanting to go to!

My all time favorite movies are "Shawshank Redemption" and "A Bronx Tale". I haven't seen "The Tourist" but I have heard several people talking about being puzzled by the nomination.I'm glad you only -nearly- fell over the tv stand...that could have been a bad fall in your stunned state :)

I haven't been to a movie theater in years, I like the convenience of watching movies at home (love Netflix!). In the summer months, we have a theater in our backyard. We have an LCD projector and a 12 foot screen we watch movies on. In the winter, we watch them on the television (the screen is too big to set up in the house!).

Favorite movies....tough question. I love all of the classic holiday movies, especially It's A Wonderful Life. I'm also a big fan of The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Wizard Of Oz, The Elephant Man....I could go on and on.

I haven't seen The Tourist. I've never been fond of Angelina Jolie, although I thought she was great in Changeling.

Your giveaway sounds fantastic! I have a pretty good one coming up soon, too!

Since I'm in the Christmas mood/spirit, I'd have to say my most favorite movies for Christmas are Chevy Chases - Christmas Vacation and Bing's - White Christmas, neither are new, but both are classics. Merry Christmas!!

"Jungle book" was one of my childhood favorite movies, too. For this season I recount many beautiful old movies, like Babes in Toyland, Gremlins, Elf, Holiday Inn, It's a wonderful life... Hope I'll see few of them in my Holiday Days.

I'm not a day after shopper. Ya'll know how twisted and obsessive I am, all the presents are purchased and more than wrapped up...heck I decorate each and ever package. Now a great certificate could sure make me change my ways and be a day after shopper...maybe for myself...heeehehehe!!!!

Ya'll have a truly blessed day and loads of fun with your giveaway!!! :o)

no way could I remember my first movie. I do remember the movie "Birds" was one I saw as young kid. I got to go with my older sister.The problem for anyone older than say 30 or so is the movies are targeted to teens and maybe twenty somethings.

I rarely, if ever, go to a theatre to see a movie. I do make use of Netflix, though, and my passion for Indian films. I love India so that's the reason for my obession there - and if I miss something on the subtitles, I can easily rewind. I guess I'm just to lazy to go out! I've noted your list to add to my Netflix queue. Honestly, though, I forget a movie so fast and I can never remember who starred in them. I've been that way all my life so I don't think it's impending Alzheimeer's.

I tend to like some of the darker movies like Fight Club, 12 Monkeys or the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snacthers. The Shrek series is pretty cool. Kung Fu Panda is probably my favorite among the more recent movies I've seen.

Although I don't remember them, the first movies I saw were at the drive-in theaters with my parents. Whenever something scary came on, my parents would make me lay down on the back seat so I couldn't watch. I would peek anyway.

hard one...yes Grand Torino, good bad ugly, The hustler, cool hand luke, to kill a mockingbird, anything with Audrey Hepburn,it’s a wonderful life, harold & Maude, life is beautiful, ...opps...because of my own “fifty factor” can’t remember right now...Thank you so much for your necklace endorsement on my blog. You are the Best!! I am so pleased you like it...Make sure that the silver clasp makes a little “pop” sound when you put it on, so it stays secure. Just push it a little tighter with your finger. Lots of Love to you! Cynthia

I am a big fan of the old classic movies - Hollywood's Golden Age (1930s - 1960s. They just do not make movies like that anymore. I also like the Disney classics.

When I was on vacation last month I took my mom to see Burlesque and although it received bad reviews and negative comments about how Cher looked, I really liked it. I had never heard Christina Aguilera sing or, if I did, I did not know it. I loved her voice in the movie.

....and that's just off the top of my head! My first movie was Mary Poppins and my grandmother took me and it was a big deal - popcorn and everything. At 13 my dad took me to see the newly released Romeo & Juliet (Zeffirelli) and I was blown away (and totally uncomfortable during the bedroom scene with my DAD sitting next to me!). In my late teens I spent an entire evening and early morning watching a Samari marathon at a local art house. Now THAT was a movie-going experience.

Fried Green Tomatoes; Grand Torino; Scrooged; A Christmas Carol (all the versions); It's a Wonderful Life; and I could go on and on!! I kind of wanted to see Cher's movie. So we will see!!Great giveaway!!HugsSueAnn

I love old romantic movies! my favorite is Gone With The Wind, but I also love The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (Rex Harrison is YUMMY) and all the Thin Man moves. Norah is definitely the brains of that couple. When I am wanting brainless entertainment I'll go for anything that is a comic book adaptation: X-Men, Hellboy,etc.

Favourite movies? Joyeux Noel, Secrets and Lies, Welcome, Pride and Prejudice, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Walk the Line, Shrek 1, Finding Nemo and The Sound of Music. There are others I'm sure, but as I have the 2 second memory of a goldfish I can't remember! I do remeber a movie I thought was blindingly awful, and it won awards! It was Dreamgirls. Appallingly written and acted, I thought.Merry Christmas everyone, from New Zealand, where we are struggling a bit with the heat. We expect it in January and February, but it's not usually quite this hot in December. Hard doing the roast turkey and all the trimmings in this heat, but we do! Madness! But lovely.

I am sorry to hear that the Tourist wasn't that great. I will probably wait until it comes out on dvd and spend a buck at the red box to see it. My all time fave films are ~Beaches ~Cleopatra ~The dark Half~Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and a ton moreHappy Holidaystanyainjville at yahoo dot com

Another chance at winning...woot woot!!! My top favorites are what about Bob, Terms of Endearment, The Breakfast Club and Beaches...once I get really thinking about it I remember some of the greats from from back in the day! Happy weekend! XX

I"m with you JJ - Et is still one of my favorite movies! Princess Bride ranks up there along with Happily Ever After, Two Week's Notice, Love Actually, and Walk the Line. (You can tell I don't get out much!)

Also, I can't stand watching movies in a theater anymore. People are SO rude. Cell phones, candy wrappers, everyone trooping over everyone else and going to the bathroom three times during the movie, people who wait until they get to the theater to have a REALLY IMPORTANT conversation... and the biggie?

I like watching movies at home because I like to at least narrow down the finalists in the 'who left the pee on the toilet seat' contest.

Oh what fun hon!!! Hmmm let's see..the first one I saw..that I remember was either the Sound of Music or Oliver..I can't remember..loved them both. I adore movies. Thank goodness for our surround sound system..cause seriously cannot afford a movie in the theater..so miss them. I think the last one we saw was Lilo and Stitch..really it was. Am thinking it is time to go huh??! Hugs and love to you, Sarah

My favorite films tend to be the small indie flicks anymore. Too many big names, too much CGI, too much anything and they seem to edit what could be good to feature something I think of as cinematic Splenda instead of cinematic meat and potatoes.

We go one time a year, New Years Eve with the kids. Always a good one - National Treasure 1 and 2, oh gosh, what's that other series? With Steve Martin and his wife with like 12 kids. Ughhh, lol Can't remember.

I could watch Elf over and over, It's a Wonderful Life, the Christmas Box. I have LOTS of favorites!

Thanks for entering me! I barely ever shop, this economy has come close to defeating me. I'd probably order a new mailbox since the city plow ruined mine. :(

ok, I am going to name a couple of obscure movies that no one else would pick. Nine Lives, a great movie of interconnected stories with some fabulous female actresses, too many to name. Ordinary People. Bug with Ashley Judd. Mother and Child (just saw it on netflix, Naomi Watts and Annette Bening, terrific)jhbalvin at gmail dot com

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